“On behalf of the entire University Executive Board of the University of Bremen, I would like to thank Michael Schulz for his extraordinary commitment to MARUM,” President Jutta Günther states. “International excellence like that of MARUM is always the result of a collaborative effort, but without a dedicated and thoughtful leader like Michael Schulz, none of this would have been possible. We warmly congratulate Kai-Uwe Hinrichs on his election as the new director and look forward to working with him in the future.”

For more than two decades, the biogeochemist Hinrichs and his group at MARUM have been investigating the carbon cycle, microbial life of the ocean floor, as well as the microbial sources of the greenhouse gas methane and how it can be reduced in the marine environment. During his term, Hinrichs wants to continue the institutional strategy process already started in order to focus even more on addressing societal issues and solutions in marine and climate research.
In addition, Hinrichs plans to further expand international cooperation and further anchor MARUM among the top international marine research institutions through forward-looking research. Hinrichs will be supported by vice directors Prof. Elda Miramontes and Prof. Kai Bischof.

“The bar is set high,” says President Jutta Günther, “but with Kai-Uwe Hinrichs, we are gaining an internationally renowned researcher and responsible leader who, together with his team colleagues, Elda Miramontes and Kai Bischof, enjoys our full confidence. We wish Kai-Uwe Hinrichs and his team a good start and all the best for the future.”